UNICEF Data Story: Global Child Vulnerability & DTP Vaccination

Spring 2025 BAA1030 Data Analytics & Story Telling (20074)

Student Name: Isha Tanwar

Student ID: 48614

Programme: MSc in Management (Strategy)

Thanks to Professor Dr. Damien Dupre, Dublin City University, for his unwavering guidance and support.

Executive Summary

This report explores global disparities in child vulnerability using data from UNICEF and the World Bank.
It combines key indicators — GDP, immunization rates, orphan counts, and life expectancy — into a composite index.
Visual analytics highlight countries most at risk, helping align interventions with SDG 3 (Health) and SDG 10 (Inequality).

Introduction

This report provides a data-driven exploration of global child vulnerability, focusing on DTP (Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis) vaccination coverage. Using datasets from UNICEF and the World Bank, this analysis combines economic, health, and demographic indicators to expose inequities in child well-being.

Scatter Plot: GDP vs DTP Vaccination Coverage

Insight: Countries with higher GDP per capita tend to achieve better DTP vaccination rates. This suggests economic capacity plays a pivotal role in health system performance and immunization reach.

Bar Chart: Top 10 Countries by Orphanhood

Insight: Countries like Nigeria, DR Congo, and Pakistan top the orphanhood chart, reflecting the heavy burden of conflict, disease, and poverty.
This visualization underscores how systemic crises directly affect children’s lives — a call to accelerate child protection and family-strengthening programs in high-risk regions.

Time Series: Orphanhood Trends (Multi-Country Normalized)

Insight: While absolute orphan counts vary, the normalized trends show that countries like Somalia and Yemen consistently exhibit high orphanhood rates per 1000 children. This reveals not just scale, but intensity of vulnerability, adjusted for population size.

Faceted View: Orphanhood Trends by Country

Insight: Country-specific plots make it easier to spot individual trends—e.g., a steady rise in Ukraine vs. fluctuations in Nigeria. This enables policymakers to tailor child protection strategies by context.

World Map: DTP Vaccination Coverage (Rotating Globe)

Insight: The globe highlights stark disparities: Western Europe and North America show high vaccination coverage, while parts of Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia lag behind. These spatial gaps in access reflect systemic inequities that must be addressed to achieve SDG 3 (Health for All).

Weighted Index: Bottom 10 by Vulnerability

Insight: The CVI shows which countries face the gravest challenges in child well-being. Factors like low GDP, low immunization, and high orphan rates converge to elevate vulnerability. The bottom 10 countries—many of them in Africa—need holistic interventions across health, economic, and social sectors.

Simulated DTP Coverage (based on GDP)

Insight: Countries such as Somalia, Guinea, and Nigeria demonstrate large potential gains in DTP coverage if GDP is increased moderately.
Simulated scenarios empower evidence-driven investments targeting the most vulnerable regions.

SDG Alignment & Policy Implications

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

 Investing in immunization helps build resilient health systems.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

 Closing vaccination gaps supports vulnerable populations.

Conclusion

This analysis provides evidence of how economic and demographic conditions impact child vulnerability. Better policies rely on data-driven insights like these.

References

UNICEF Datasets. (2024). Child Vulnerability Indicators.
World Bank Open Data. (2024). Economic and Health Indicators by Country.
United Nations. (2023). Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Framework.

Report prepared by Isha Tanwar | Spring 2025 | Dublin City University